March 2025 Meeting Minutes

Northern Virginia Writers Club

March 2025 Meeting Minutes

3/22/25       1:00 PM

1. Call to order
   1. Meeting started at 1:18 PM
2. Roll call
   1. Newcomer introductions
   2. Attendees:
      • In-person: 20 total
      • Online: 20 total
3. Approval of minutes from last meeting
   • AJ George moved to approve, Michelle McBeth seconded the motion, minutes approved unanimously
4. Officer’s Reports

1. 1. President
      1. Miscellaneous Mentions
         • We are in the process of looking for a permanent meeting location
         • Notice that minutes are posted on website
         • Poll in newsletter for more social interaction – please vote!
      2. Upcoming meeting topics:
         • April 26: Golden Nib Award Winners from NVWC
         • May 17: Rosslyn Chay on working toward authentic expression
         • June 21: Mary Catherine Jones on audiobook production, from microphone to marketplace
         • July 19: club family picnic (see survey in newsletter about proposed outing)
         • August 16: Member Scott Frost on independent publishing with his guide to treading the self-publishing abyss
         • September 20: Members Darius Jones, Allie Nelson, and Carolyn McBride on magazine, journal, and anthology publishing
         • October 18: TBD
         • November 15: Annual NaNoWriMo write-in
         • December 13: club holiday party
      3. Report from quarterly VWC Board of Governors Meeting, Feb. 25
         • VWC Annual Symposium Aug. 2
           • Usually at Randolph Macon College, Ashland
           • Diane Fanning – Keynote Speaker – true crime and mystery writer, may have seen her on 48 Hours and Dateline; will be making a call for other speakers
         • VWC Annual Meeting
           • Usually first Saturday in November in Richmond at Maggiano’s, date and location may be changed
      4. Errors & Omissions insurance purchase for club approved by Board in a meeting on Feb. 23
   2. Vice President Casie White
      • Call for audio equipment assistance
   3. Treasurer AJ George
      • Net assets YTD: $8,023.54
      • Does not include recent $725 disbursement
   4. Secretary Kevin Connor
      • Nothing to report
   5. Membership Chair Isabelle Missud
      • Nothing to report
   6. Event Coordinators: Lois Wren, David Wessel, Jennifer Milder
      1. From Lois: Barnes & Noble event guideline reminders
         • All NVWC bookings handled by our event coordinators, not individually be members. Your membership does not automatically gain access for signings.
         • You may approach B&N on your own, but not as a member/representative of NVWC.
      2. David Wessel:
         • We still have openings for April 5 and 6 at Fredericksburg Spring Arts and Crafts Festival: email David if interested
         • Viva Vienna is in May but not confirmed yet
         • Occoquan Riverfest show is set for June
         • August Arlington County Fair – awaiting funding
         • Fairfax Fall festival also not funded yet
      3. Jennifer Milder is taking names for upstairs book event at Elaine’s
   7. Website Coordinators: Carolyn McBride, Toby Dorr
      • Private collaboration within website under development
   8. Social Media Coordinator Allie Nelson
      • Join the Northern Virginia’s Writers Club public Facebook group
   9. Golden Nib Coordinator Suzanne Davenport
   10. To be discussed in April meeting

5. Old Business

• Upcoming writing resources/contests
  • Reminder: VWC Journal Submissions due March 31
    • https://virginiawritersclub.org/VWC-Journal-Guidelines

6. New Business

• Upcoming writing resources/contests
  • VWC has Facebook group, New Releases blog for announcements, and monthly Zoom Gathering of Authors
    • https://www.facebook.com/groups/600784670355187
    • https://www.virginiawritersclub.org/VWC-Blog/13454672, use form https://www.virginiawritersclub.org/Members-New-Release-Form
  • Upcoming fairs and festival with open registration
    • Blue Ridge Writers Fourth Annual Spring Open House and Celebration (book sale opportunity for members of VWC) – April 18, 4-6 pm
      The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Blvd, Charlottesville, VA 22901
      Contact aldenbigelow46@gmail
    • WriteNow! NC State, Raleigh writers conference – May 17
      https://tafnc.com/writenow
    • National Book Festival, Washington Convention Center: September 6
    • Hanover Book Expo – Nov. 8

7. Business from the floor

• • Suggestion to pay for social media service
  • There was a question if there is still time to fill out spreadsheet for the book fair. David Wessel answered that there is still time and to coordinate with him.
  • Where is the agenda posted? Agenda not posted in advance but past minutes are available on the website. Go to Membership and then Meeting Minutes

8. Toby Dorr on expanding your reach as an author

9. Adjournment

• Meeting adjourned at 2:43 PM